IMPORTANT NOTE

PLEASE NOTE:

Steam-Windows, Steam-Linux and Steam-Mac - These 3 "can" play together on Steam only.
PS4 - only with other PS versions
Xbox - only with other Xbox versions.
Note that the Microsoft "Windows 10" version (not Steam) is the Xbox version and so can play with Xbox.

In-Game Server List

I CANNOT FIND MY SERVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The in-game ARK server list will only permit you to search through a small, sometimes random handful of servers, generally between 2 and 3 thousand;
keep in mind that there are over 12,000 servers currently online.
Unfortunately, this is not something we cannot control
ALSO: Make sure you have updated your server. WE DO NOT DO THIS FOR YOU!!
If your client and server are not on the same version/release, you WILL NOT see your server in the in-game server list

How do I Connect To My Server

With the above in mind, the quickest and easiest way is to:

Add your server to your Steam / Server / Favorites list

To add your server you will need you Server IP Address and Query port info.

Adding Mods

** WARNING!!!! ***
Not all mods are supported for mod stacking (multiple mods). Mods may also be outdated upon release of new game updates which have caused major issues for server owners in the past (data loss, crashing). Also, note that technical support related to mods will be rather limited. The moment mods are installed, we are not held liable for any issues which may be related to the mod install - including data loss, service instability, and so forth. You are given every tool necessary to add and maintain mods.
Please make sure you check the mods you want to use, 1) make sure they are compatible with the newer versions of ARK, 2) if they have any dependencies you need add those mods too,
3) if there is any additional configuration required, make sure you complete this also, as sometimes this may stop your server from starting correctly.
When you connect to your server it will attempt to download any mods you have added to the server that you do not have already installed on your local PC. If the mods are larger than 800MB in size there is a know issue with Steam and ARK, the download will timeout and you may have to try to connect a few times.. If this fails, make sure that you have subscribed to the mods and run the Steam Utility to Validate your local files.

Things To Remember

When adding mods to your server....

Either via the Configuration Editor or the Text Editor under the Configuration Files option.

MAKE SURE....YOU DO NOT PUT ANY SPACES IN THE INPUT BOX OR VARIABLE LINE

Example:

Active Mods (IDs):123456789, 987654321 IS NOT THE SAME AS Active Mods (IDs): 123456789,987654321 and/or

ActiveMods=123456789, 987654321 IS NOT THE SAME AS ActiveMods=123456789,987654321

The space after the comma will cause your server to look no further on the line for any mods.

The trailing comma will make the server think there is more

THE COMBINATION WILL CAUSE YOUR SERVER NOT TO START PROPERLY

Initial mod downloading (if using the '-automodmanage' commandline option, see more below) can take a while....

If you are using a Mod Map, it must be the FIRST Mod ID in the mod list.

Steam Workshop

Open Steam, and navigate to the ARK workshop. Find a mod you'd like to use on your server.

At the end of the link shown in the workshop listing, there is a number value. Copy this number value down. This is the Steam workshop mod ID. See the image below. If you can't see the URL then you'll need to enable it in your Steam settings.

You will need to copy the 538986299 folder and the 538986299.mod file to the server ShooterGame\Content\Mods\ from your local PC.

Click on the Configuration Files icon and open then open the GameUserSettings.ini in the Text Editor.

Search for a setting with the name ActiveMods.

Add your mod IDs onto the end of the ActiveMods= line having each mod ID separated by a comma. Do not place a comma after the last mod ID. Let's say you had a mod with ID 123456789 and another with 987654321. You'd want to make the setting look like: ActiveMods=123456789,987654321

Changing Maps

Changing Default Maps

Select the appropriate commandline, typically this is Default, by clicking on the Select link on the right hand side

From the dropdown list select the map you want to use:

Click on the Apply button

This will restart your server and use the new Map

Please note: when using Mod Maps, some of them will change the server main configuration file MaxPlayers= value to 70.

This will cause your server to be shut down if your purchased slot limit is not already 70.

Remember to change this back to your allowed amount of slots or (go into the Text Editor option for the GameUserSettings.ini file and look for the "MaxPlayers=" line, change it back to your allowed amount, save and start your server.)

Backup and Restore

Restore Existing .bak Files

NOTE: This is not restoring a server backup
ARK creates backup files in the \ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArks\:

Periodically for the Map files

Any time there is a change to either a player file or a tribe file

Your \ShooterGame\Saved\SavedArks\ contains three types of files:

Playerprofiles - Each player is assigned a custom profile on the server. this profile is saved as a "SteamID.arkprofile" file. For example: 765123979XXX40008.arkprofile

World - The current world is saved as a "Worldname.ark" file. For example: TheIsland.ark

Tribes - Each created tribe is saved as an "TribeID.arktribe" file. For example: 1068865824.arktribe

A backup copy or a copy of the last version of each Player Profile and Tribe will have the word 'bak' appended to it.
Backup copies of your world file will have a date/time stamp included in the name. For example TheIsland_21.08.2017_00.41.12.ark.

Game Updates and other Info

ARK: Homestead and Structures+ (S+) Mod

With the introduction of the ARK: Homestead update, several new variables were added.
These can be adjusted from the Configuration Files, GameUserSettings.ini file, click on Configuration Editor. You will need to scroll all the way to the bottom

The AllowIntegratedSPlusStructures variable, if false (unchecked) disables all of the new S+ structures

(intended mainly for letting unofficials that want to keep using the S+ mod version to keep using that without a ton of extra duplicate structures)

NOTE: There are issues... especially if you are running the S+ mod on your server

The options in this config file fluctuate depending, we provide a default set options.

On what changes the game developers add / remove

What you add/remove into the config manually.

There are multiple sources out on the internet that cover the contents of this file. A lot are very out dated, so be careful what you wish for.. it may not work and may lead to lots of confusion and frustration

Game.ini

This file is used for more advanced modifications, such as changing engram points or XP rewarded per level, disabling specific content, or rebalancing depending on player tastes.

On TRUgaming servers, by default this file is empty

File location: ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\game.ini

If you are going to use this file, make sure the very first line, contains the following text

Game Play Tips

Change Gather Rates

* Harvest Amount Multiplier 4
* Harvest health multiplier 1

Change 'Harvest Amount Multiplier to the amount you want to harvest in game (example: with this set to 1 will get you 1 , with this set to 30 will get you 30)
Do be aware though that setting the Harvest Health Multiplier will divide the amount you get (example: if you have amount multiplier set to 30 but health multiplier set to 2 you would get 15 of the item in game) Top

Destroy Wild Dinos

Wild dinos tend to accumulate and can cause a slowdown of the server.

Issue the following as server admin:

enablecheats <YOURADMINPASS>

cheat saveworld

cheat destroywilddinos

cheat saveworld

cheat quit (will restart the server)

Disable Friendly Fire on PVE Server

Stop your server

Click on the Configuration Files option

Click on the Text Editor link for the Game.ini file to open the file for editing

Incubation/Maturity settings on your ARK server

PLEASE NOTE:

To change the incubation times and maturing rates you will need to add the following lines to your Game.ini.** DO NOT **... ** DO NOT ** Add these to your GameUSerSettings.ini file. It will stop your server from running.
Also: Make sure that the very first line in your Game.ini file is
[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]

Stop your server

Click on the Configuration Files option

Click on the Text Editor link for the Game.ini file to open the file for editing

Note: By default this is empty

Add the following:

[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode] (add it not already there)

MatingIntervalMultiplier=0.15

EggHatchSpeedMultiplier=10.0

BabyMatureSpeedMultiplier=25.0

The variables and values above are used for example only. You can adjust them to suit your needs

You can add any additional variables to the file that impact Incubation/maturity (Take a look at this link:Game.ini Settings for more info)

Save your file

Start your server back up

Breeding and other options:

There are several other options you can add, please take a look at the following reference: Game.ini Settings